Business form assembly



April 18 1961 Moss 0,446

BUSINESS FORM ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z SIOOI SHPPER I I I2 l3 I4 $3, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 18, 1 61 J. MOSS 2,980,446

BUSINESS FORM ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHIPPED xSHIPPE'Q FROM Vm smm esz xxxxx xxx X X INVENTOR. 1 7 /6 M055 J. MOSSBUSINESS FORM ASSEMBLY April 18, 1961 Filed March 18, 1957 PPED SmPPEraFROM Vm SHIPPER XXX XX X 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

(l 46K Moss flrraeNEy.

April 18 1961 MOSS 0,446

BUSINESS FORM ASSEMBLY Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I I I II I I I I I JOHN DOE MFG. CO.

INVENTOR. JAC K M 055 ATTORNEY Unit d te P t ifi BUSINESS FORM ASSEMBLY7 Jack Moss, 1516 Cory Drive, Dayton, Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1957, Ser. No.646,772

. 10 Claims. (Cl. 282-22) The present invention relates to businessformsand more particularly to multiple paper forms used in establishingbusiness records. The invention further relates to a novel assembly ofsuch multiple forms, aswell as to an improved method for such assembly.

The operation of retailing is a highly complex internal operation. Theaverage large store is composed of a number of departments each of whichis individually managed. Such a store may have as many as 150 separatedepartments each of which stocks thousands of different items. Eachdepartment is subject to individual accounting just as if it, were anindividual store. This departmental accounting covers every phase of thedepartments merchandising cost and profit aspects.

' It is a fact not generally known that retail stores are probably thelargest receivers in the United States of less than carload or truckloadlots of freight, parcel post, and express. While total tonnage may beless than industrial or manufacturing plants of comparable size, thenumber of individual shipments received is much greater. The merchandisemust always be available for prompt sale and the location of retailreceiving department facilities in congested downtown locations limitsthe space needed to properly handle the thousands of inbound shipmentsof all sizes and description. Any delays which occur are costly to thestore and to the transportation companies and have an important efiecton distribution. Because of the large number of shipments, the receivingsystem must carry proper and simple controls over loss and damage claimsso that the nature of these may be determined, responsibility fixed, andclaims properly and promptly filed.

In addition, the receiving department must authenticate as properlypayable every invoice covering all merchandise and supplies which thestore receives. This invoice then serves as the posting medium fromwhich all departmental records are obtained, inventories calculated, andbuying budgets adjusted.

A further factor which adds to the complexity of handling retailmerchandise is the fact that practically every individual article ofmerchandise which the store sells must carry a so-called price tag.Actually the price on the tag is but one of the important items ofinformation which the retail marking ticket carries. This ticket is thebasis of the stores inventory and sales records, reorder information,and unit controls. The receiving department of the store is charged withthe responsibility of preparing and attaching these marking tickets. 7

All of these conditions have created a need for a receiving system whichwill handle shipments very speedily but with proper departmentalcontrols. These controls must cover not only the actual inbounddistribution of the physical materials, but they, must also see thatinvoices and orders are properly cleared so discounts may be obtainedand departmental purchase records kept accurate and up-to-date.Furthermore, the various merchandising divisions must be provided withproper records of the actual merchandise units moving through the store.

Another aspect of a retail system is the need for controls which preventloss or stock shortage which requires that proper paperwork maintaincontact with all goods at every point where they change hands.

As described in applicants prior Patent No. 2,757,940 patented August 7,1956, of which this present invention is a modification and improvement,a highly eflicient business form assembly is provided which satisfiesthe requirements mentioned above, particularly in connection with themaintenance of receiving records for department stores and the like.Such a form is comprised of a staggered assembly of a plurality ofmultiple part sets which must be numbered, collated and properlyassembled prior to use. t

In view of the fact that these business form assemblies are composed ofa large number of separate elementsor sets, certain problems occurduring assembly as well as in shipment, handling and. usev subsequentthereto. In accordance with the present invention, these problems areeliminated or minmized by the attachment of a sheet or film to the formswhich have been arranged in their proper staggered relationship, andprior to or duringtheir assembly with the key record sheet utilized inthe construction of the above-mentioned patent. In this way, therespective elements of the assembly are retained in their properrelationship during handling and assembly and binding with thekeyrecordsheet. The sheet or film is of such nature that it may be readilytorn when it is desired to remove a form or a group of forms from theassembly. Perforations or weakened lines may be provided in the properposition to facilitate tearing. It is frequent ly desirable to providefor the attachment of invoices which relate to the shipmentsdescribed'on the original form of each of the above-mentioned sets. Thisattachment may be facilitated by utilizing as the sheeet or film, amaterial having suitable adhesive properties, so that as each form orset of forms is removed from the assembly, a strip of such material willremain along one edge of the form and this adhesive material may beutilized for attachment of the corresponding invoice in a manner to bedescribed further below. i

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide abusiness form assembly in which the individual elements thereof aremaintained in the proper relationship by means of an overlying orattached sheet'or-filtn of suitablematerial. V i

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved methodfor the assembly of groups of business forms in a definite relationship.

It is a further object of the present'invention to provide a means forthe assembly. of business forms which will provide adhesive or attachingmeans for invoices'or related documents.

Other objects will become apparent from a consideration of thespecification and drawings described below.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a plan-view showing a group of forms or form sets arrangedin staggered relationship prior toassembly or bindingthereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of theprearranged forms of with a transparentsheet or film of plastic material over;- lying said forms in such amanner that they are held in their pre-arranged relationship; 7 I i Fig.3 shows a plan view of the assembly of Fig. 2 bound at the edge to a keyrecord sheet; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of theinventioncorresponding, in general, to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention illustrating adifierent type of adhesive sheet;

Fig. 6 illustrates a single form which has been removed from theassembly after completion, illustrating the means of. attachinganinvoice thereto. Q Referring to the drawings, it will be seenthatFigi"? 1 illustrates a group of forms or formsets 25, inelujsive,arranged in staggered, superimposed relationship,

' readily.- adhesive, or

- :dis'arrange'd.

of each form or set of forms through carbon 1 struction. As shown,

- about to be torn as shown. 'These forms are sequentially numbered; for

a I example, thenumbers selected for the forms shown are 26- to 41,inclusive. However, anydesired system of identification of these formsany. desired, numueriof forms maybe utilized 1' assembled. The numberillus trated is seIected b y'wayof example onlylj'l'he'se forms.

ar anged sothat thelhottom line of each exposed; Wi

" which will" be fully exposed. The topmost form filled and may then betornofior fiippedjto one Jsideso that'the next form maybe utilized. Ofcourse, the staggered arrangement maybe reversed if desired, the bottomformof-the' assembly eing'uppermost; '3 As shown in Fig.2,thepfearrangedfornisfofifigrl are maintained inv such a position ina'jig, clamp; or

Eithersuitahleretaining.meansQWhiIeQa sheet 42' is ap v k v an adhesivenature as shown at 45c. Whenform 10c is plied thereover inisuch amannerI that it engages the bot-- "tom line of the topmost .form. and. theexposed bottom 'of the forms positioned beneath it. In the drawth theexception of the first or topmost formorj set of,

New: a a

' farm, the adhesive i 1 o s will remain on the form for reasonsdESOtlbfidbfilOW As shown, sheet 42b is provided'with a series ofpreperforations or weakened lines 70 to 74, inclusive, to facilitatetearing. When form or form set 1011; is ready to be torn from theassembly, the

. entire formmay be removed along tear line 70 carrying with itoverlying strip 45b, which may be then stripped from the form leavingbehind a' layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 75; The sameprocedure isfollowed in removing the remaining forms-of the assembly, in each caseleaving behind a strip of pressure sensitiveadhesive exposed on thebottom margin ofthe respective-forms As shown in Fig; 6, where hisdesiredto attach an invoice ing, the bottom right-hand corner is shownturned upjfor P p .or ofjsheet'plasticv material, preferably thin enoughtobe These sheets. may belappliedby-meansof if the sheet material is ofa thermosensitive satire, heat maybe applied to itto'lcause 'it'toadhere to used for adhesion,- and in the case of plastic sheet or film,

suitable -adhesives maybe utilized to permit these mate rials to' adhereto the'formsa .Where'. the. material is of a thermosensitive nature,a'heated roll or platen may be rolled over the area of the'sheet,causing it to adhere to the' forms beneath. It will beseen thatthe assembled bly ismade by adhering a folded 'over edge of the key'sheet, by means of adhesive applied to the-inner surface of this edge,against the edge area of the assembled forms,

taken with or withouta heavier backing sheet, If desired,

stitching .or staples may be used, but since the .forms are heldtogether by't'he overlying sheet, this is not necessary" and representsone of the advantagesof this con- 7 the top form or setof forms 10 aftercompletionlis about to. be tornfrom the overlying "sheet leaving stripafiixed toI thebottomiedge of jthetopmost form of. thissetQ'Asillustrated, a portion of strip 44 is-lifted from-thebottom edge toshowits 'sep,-

in Fig. 3, the.assembled'group'oiforms from of illustration... This:sheet may be ofpaper the'formsl In, the case of paper, ordinary glue.maybe or other document to eachof the forms of theassembly describedabove, or where multiple sets areusedwhere it is desirableto attach suchinvoice to the topmost or priginal form of each set, a strip o'fmaterial: which remains after removal from the/overlying sheet may be ofcase of plastic materials, theses'tripsmayqbe of a thermosens'iti'venature jl-i'n case, ppon, the" application of the top edge of theinvoicetdthebottom edge of'th'e' form, adhesion may be affected byapplying a'heated iron orshoeorsimilar. memberpto the superimposed areasusing the adhesive material'to soften anduniteit with the invoice. Asexamplesof therrnosensitive' sheet or film a materials which may beutilized in this'manner, may be mentioned the'polyvinyl chlorides,polyvinyl acetate films,

- cellulose acetatefilm and similarthermoplastic or thermosensitiveadhesives. Pressure sensitive adhesives which 'may be utilized in theform of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 may includepaper'orplasticsheet or film, coated onthe reverse side with suchknownsp'ressuresensitive adhesives assolutions or dispersions ofunvulcanized natural or synthetic rubbers, solutions of polybutenes(Vistanex), or suitable blendsor mixtures thereof as known to the.prior. art In such case, the overlying sheet'such as 4215 may be formedof or coated on its reverse side with a material less adherentlto theadhesive than the paper of the form. Such a material or coating maybe ofpolyethylene sheet or film .or a coating composition containingit; Othernonadherenticoatings. are waxes,

silicone solutions, and the like. The use of such materials permits'theadhesiveto be, in effect, stripped from the mate nature and, ifgdesired,it may-be;,c6mpletely re moved, provided the adhesive 45willpermitrhowever strip generally remains attached toathe bottom edge.The same procedure is; followed during use in. detaching the other formswith the strip of paper or. plastic material remaining afiixed'to.thebottom edge of each-successive a form." a

' As' shown is Fig; 21f tastiest-as dramatist 'ot ch the overlying.sheet 42a is.

separating the remain in g forms or sets offorms from-the assembly; o Afurther modification of'the invention is 'illustratedin Fig. 5 whichillustrates a partial assembly. of a group of. forms. similar to thatdescribed in thepreceding figures.

Overlying'sheet 42b is coatedon thereverse sidewith a j pressuresensitive adhesivefof such a. nature that when thesheet or.stripsthereofare removed from the under back of the sheet and remainonthe form. AtV-the same 'time,- the sheetwill be sufiicientlyadherent toretain the iormsin their desired positions a I x: While preformed sheetsof IhEI'IIlOSEBSltlVODSlIHllfiIIY adhesive materials may be utilized,equivalent layers or filmsmay beapplied to the superimposedstaggered'forms byispraying, brushing, rolling orlotherwise. These maybe applied from solutions or dispersions of thermoplastic resins, suchas polyvinyl chloridesolutions or dispersions,

polyvinyl chloride plastisols and similar. known materials; While thedrawings illustrate'the .use of continuoussheets or filmsoverlyingthefforms;localized strips or similar areas which maybespacedfrom each other'ma'y be utilized in order tosave material,as'long .as these stripsoverlie the forms insuch a manner that they willbe held together; For example, after. the forms have been assem bled ina properrelationship, a plate havingopenings corresponding to the.desired areas which will engage the superimposed forms may be appliedover the assembled formsan acoating of a suitable thermoplastic materialmay be sprayed or otherwiseapplied to the forms through the openings. inthe plate order.v to. obtain. the desired localized pattern. When thecoating material or dispersion dries or jells, a thin film of adhesivematerial remains upon the assembled forms.

The inventor claims:

1. A business form assembly comprising a plurality of separate formsarranged in superimposed staggered relationship with the side edgesthereof in substantial registration with each other with a marginal endedge area of each form being exposed thereby, and a flat sheet memberpositioned over said forms and bonded to the exposed end edge area ofeach form over a major portion of the width of said forms between theside edges of the assembly whereby the positional arrangement of saidforms and said end edge areas between the side edges is maintainedagainst longitudinal movement and separation of said forms and said edgeareas from each other.

2. A business form assembly according to claim '1 wherein said sheetmember is severable between adjacent forms to leave a segment thereofbonded to the corresponding marginal area.

3. A business form assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sheetmember is adhered by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive whereby thebonded portions are removable from said forms.

4. A business form assembly according to claim 1 wherein the exposedouter surface of the sheet member comprises an aotivatable adhesivematerial.

5. A business form assembly according to claim 4 wherein the activatableadhesive material is of the heat sensitive type.

6. A business form assembly according to claim 4 wherein the activatableadhesive material is of the solvent activated type.

7. A business form assembly according to claim 4 wherein the activatableadhesive is of the water activated type.

8. A business form assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sheetmember is formed with a relatively non-adhesive bottom surface having apressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto whereby upon removal of saidsheet or any segment thereof said adhesive remains preferentiallyadhered to the exposed surface of the form, said remaining adhesivebeing thereby receptive to a supplemental form to be applied thereto.

9. A business form assembly according to claim 1 wherein saidsuperimposed forms are bound together along one side edge thereof.

10. A business form assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of saidseparate forms comprises a multiple part set with pressure responsiveduplicating means interposed between each member of the set and a keyrecord sheet underlying said assembled forms and separated therefrom bypressure responsive duplicating material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,973,796 Cottrell Sept. 18, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,428 Great Britain-Aug. 31, 1948 843,542 Germany July 10, -2

